MANILA - A constitutional crisis would erupt if the lawyers of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno enjoin the Supreme Court to intervene in the impeachment proceedings against her, the chairperson of the House justice committee warned Tuesday.

Sereno has refused to attend the proceedings, insisting her lawyers can question witnesses on her behalf. House leaders however said this was against the rules of procedure, which state that only resource persons are allowed to speak, and not their lawyers.

Umali's committee earlier voted that the complaint against her was sufficient in form and substance despite the use of newspaper clippings as evidence. On Wednesday, the panel would determine whether or not the case has probable cause.

If Sereno skips the 9:30 a.m. hearing, she would forfeit her right to refute the accusations and force congressmen to "resolve the case on the basis of the evidence at hand," said Umali.

A member of the academe however said he does not see why lawyers should not be allowed to represent Sereno when "the right to counsel is a basic right."

At the same time, he said the Constitution mandates the Supreme court to look into possible irregularities in all branches of government, including Sereno's plight at the House.

"The power of the Supreme Court to determine whether there is any grave abuse of discretion power, according to Article 8 Section 1 of our Constitution, is all-encompassing," San Beda College of Law Dean Fr. Ranhilio Aquino said in a separate DZMM interview.

Aquino urged the government to refrain from using impeachment to threaten political foes.